All Entries in the "Money & Consumer" Category

Some things in life are best left to the professionals. Though it may be tempting to save a few bucks by doing a project without professional input, there are at least five situations where you should consider using the experienced skillset of those in business to serve you. Retirement Planning Retirement planning is a strategy for […]

By Heidi Tetzman Roepke The temptation to spend money is everywhere. From the seemingly innocent daily stop at the coffee shop for a latte, to buying the latest electronic gizmo we “must” have, many of us spend more than we make. Debt snowballs, and soon we’re worried about making even the minimum payments on credit […]

By Meredith Holt Fargo-area Realtor Tracy Green suggested that a client paint her dark-orange vaulted foyer a neutral taupe, but she resisted—she loved the burnt orange. The house was listed for months without selling. Finally, the owner agreed to paint her foyer, and when she did, the house sold three weeks later. In order to […]

Young people are passionate about music and parents are, understandably, worried about what’s appropriate for young ears. Today, however, parents need to look beyond lyrics to think about how kids are getting their music. Downloaded music is so readily available that teens can easily slip into behavior that is both unethical and illegal. The issue […]

One day last fall, Riah Roe, a student at Concordia College, Moorhead, checked her online bank account and noticed purchases from a number of stores she had not visited. Despite the fact that Roe and her credit card were in Moorhead, all the purchases were made on the east coast. Roe was a victim of […]

At winter’s harshest, we take extra steps to protect ourselves. We may get a flu shot. We try to keep ourselves and our little ones cozy with sweaters and layers and blankets. We warm up from being outdoors with a steaming hot mug of cider or cocoa, or some chicken noodle soup. But amid the […]

By Lonna Whiting and Tammy Noteboom On average, a 2011 undergraduate will have $27,200 in student loan debt, while someone with an advanced degree will accrue $50,000 or more in student loan debt––and that doesn’t take into account interest. It’s a crisis hundreds of thousands of graduates in the U.S. are dealing with, some better […]

By Heidi Tetzman Having or being a cosigner is a common practice when seeking a loan from a bank, but are you familiar with the ins and outs before taking the plunge? For some insight on what to know before signing on the dotted line, we talked to Eric Braun, Personal Banking Officer at State […]

In recent years, the stigma of buying used has faded thanks to sites like eBay and Craigslist. Economic necessity and the green movement may give thrift a chance to become trendy. Want to get in on the savings? Check out these possibilities before you pay full price! By Lara Krupicka Sporting Goods With kids’ sizes […]

By Meredith Holt Photography by Ann Arbor Miller Though the economy has shown signs of recovery this past year, it’s slow-going. In June, the jobless rate fell to 9.5 percent, but The Associated Press reports that’s only because more than a half-million people gave up looking for work and were no longer counted as unemployed. […]

By Janelle Brandon Today’s multigenerational work environment has become a macrocosm of intricate social taboos, values and work ethics that can either clash or complement one another. What one Gen Xer considers a funny water cooler joke, a Baby Boomer might find offensive. A Millennial might appear to clock out at 5 sharp, but she […]